By Lori EhdeA 24-year-old Adrian High School graduate drowned Saturday in a swimming accident near Silver Bay.Jared Johnson, rural Wilmont, was enjoying a church outing in Two Harbors State Park where he and some friends swam in the Baptism River.According to those who were with him that afternoon, Johnson and three others were swimming a distance from the others and found themselves in trouble with a river undercurrent.Two were able to save themselves, and Johnson helped another to safety before he drowned. It was 2:47 p.m. when he went under and didn’t resurface.His parents, Randy and Carol Johnson, rural Rushmore, were at a wedding reception when Nobles County Deputy Ryan Kruger interrupted to bring them the news."It wasn’t easy for him either. He knew Jared well," Carol said Tuesday. "He told me we should be proud of our son because he saved someone’s life."The Johnsons first received news of the accident at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. "They told us he went down and they hadn’t found him," Carol said.Rescue workers recovered Johnson’s body a half hour later at 6 p.m. "I’m glad they found his body," Carol said.She said her son was an accomplished swimmer but she was told the water was very cold, and that may have paralyzed his legs, making survival more difficult. The same thing likely happened to the young woman Johnson saved."They told me he pushed the young lady out to her husband," Carol said. "She was saved, but he was brought down by the current … and the Lord took his soul."The woman’s husband reportedly then tried to save Johnson, but Johnson never resurfaced for that opportunity.Funeral services were Wednesday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont.His parents are now clinging tightly to his memory. "He lived his life for Jesus Christ," Carol said. "He was a joy to everyone. … He loved to make people laugh."In addition, she said he’ll likely be remembered for his tireless volunteer work, especially for hospice where he made himself available at all hours for those who needed him.He had worked with Campus Ministry during college, and he most recently worked with the JOPPA Christian ministries group.He graduated in 1997 from Adrian High school and has an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He was recently accepted into the Mortuary Science program at the U of M.
